How to choose the best yarns for your knitting project

What to start a new knitting or crochet project? Looking for the right type?

Let’s see what yarn types deserve your special attention. There is a large selection of knitting materials. Natural threads are of course the priority. Products knitted using quality materials have excellent characteristics, including durability and hypoallergenic properties. The properties of the most commonly used types of material that are more expensive and of better quality for knitting will be described below.

Merino wool

This is natural wool of a special species of sheep, which has been bred to produce superior quality wool with a reduced thickness of fibers. Even though the thickness is small, they are still very strong. Clothing made from the best merino wool brand threads is soft, strong, has an attractive look, and also saves heat perfectly.

The Merino wool became the most popular and widespread after the famous boom that occurred in Spain at the end of the 12th century. Around this time, animals were crossbred with English sheep to obtain merino. Their breeding became so popular that it was even documented by some writers of that time. Until the late 16th century, Spain was one of the largest suppliers of quality wool in Europe. At that time, it was mainly rich people or the church who breed this type of sheep and sold their wool. For some time, the export of merino wool from Spain was punishable by the death penalty at the legislative level. It is perhaps this ban and the wool shortages that followed it in the rest of the world gave rise to sheep breeding in other countries. Australia became a leader in this area and has remained so to this day. By some estimates, Australia's share of the wool market is around 80%.

There are many categories of this wool. It is believed that Australian sheep's wool is especially good quality because of the country's climate. Adapting to it, the sheep's wool grows of excellent quality small thickness, very soft and pleasant to the body.

Wool is sorted into categories of thickness from thinnest to thickest and the price varies accordingly.

The thinnest (Ultrafine Wool) is the best possible fiber in the world, with a range of around 16.0 microns. Breeders who concentrate on producing ultrafine varieties sometimes receive fibers that are 13.5 μm in size and even slightly thinner than this. The giant value of merino wool yarn in the 12.5-17.5 range is often mixed with other exclusive fibers, such as silk and cashmere, to produce high-quality fabrics for the expensive and exclusive clothing market for both men and women.

Medium-thick wool (Fine-Medium Wool) - with a fiber diameter typically between 19.6 and 20.5 μm is the most common. Most sheep produce wool with this thickness. This type of wool is simply ideal for use in medium and heavy knitwear. The distinguishing feature is the high softness, but at the same time, the obvious elasticity and durability have an excellent impact on performance.

Medium Wool is a wool with a fiber diameter of approximately 20.6-22.5 μm. Very often used in light suits, various types of knitwear. A key difference is the increased wear resistance of products made of this material.

The thickest type of wool (Strong Wool) is the one with an approximate fiber diameter of 22.6 μm or more. It is considered the strongest of all wool types in this category. It is often used in the aviation and automotive industries. It is worth noting that designers use this type of wool for interior decoration, and artists sometimes use it for creative purposes.

Features of merino wool

Thanks to the fact that merino sheep have been breeding for a long time. Continuous selection has helped to obtain raw materials of maximum good quality with excellent characteristics, while the thickness of the fiber usually remains very low. Clothes made of merino wool do not irritate or scratch the skin. The wear of products made of this material is unforgettable thanks to its extremely pleasant sensations.

If you compare such wool to other materials, the advantage of merino wool is its thinness. It transmits enough oxygen to the skin and at the same time keeps it warm. Cloth containing this type of wool is used in clothes with improved thermal insulation properties. This type of wool has a high capacity to absorb water (up to 30% of its weight). This makes it very comfortable to wear garments made of merino wool. The body stays at a comfortable temperature and dry in most cases.

This material is ideal for making underwear for both children and adults. Even the most active children who are constantly active will feel comfortable, dry, and warm.

Merino wool, considered the softest of all existing types of wool, is in most cases suitable for allergic skin, as it does not generally stimulate allergic reactions. The extremely low thickness, softness, and firmness of the merino wool fiber, combined with its excellent elasticity, increases the high performance of this material. The natural antimicrobial properties of merino wool help reject unpleasant smells, and this is also certainly considered as a great advantage over existing synthetic fabrics.

Also, blankets made of merino wool, plaids, which are so cozy to wrap up in cold weather or after a hard-working day, are popular. Many good clothing manufacturers make thermal underwear made of merino wool and also children's underwear. It is always dry and comfortable in any weather.

 Such wool can be considered as a unique material. It has been used in the manufacture of clothing for many years and has always been well-known not only for its high-performance characteristics but also for some health benefits. The strongest and most common type of wool is the wool of two-humped camels. Its structure consists of a rough outer layer and a softer inner layer. The lower layer is the material that is more valuable and widely used in knitting. One animal can give about 5-8 kilograms of beautiful fluff from which camel hair yarn is made.

The highest quality of the obtained fluff is usually typical for young animals under the age of 1 year. It is collected by combing it on the chest. It is white in contrast to what is collected from adult camels. This may explain the natural difference in the coloring of camel hair products.

Beneficial properties

The most important of these may be considered the thermal insulating property. Thanks to the special structure of the hairs, heat accumulates and is not released to the outside. The wool creates some kind of air chamber that contains enough oxygen and heat to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Clothes or blankets made of camel wool keep you warm even in the harshest of cold. Such clothes can also protect your body from overheating. The high level of water absorption of this material ensures that excessive humidity is removed from the body over a long time. This property of camel wool clothing has been known for a long time and has been actively used for many years.

This material contains lanolin. It has some beneficial effects on human skin when heated. If someone feels uncomfortable in the joints, heating them with products made of this type of wool will help reduce the degree of uncomfortable feelings. Additionally, wearing camel wool products will not be able to provoke allergic reactions in most cases. It does not collect much dust and neutralizes static electricity charges.

Application

There are a huge number of types of camel hair clothes including:

- Plaids and blankets;

- Socks;

- Corsets, belts, armbands;

- Thermal underwear sets for men, women, and children, etc.

Sheep's wool – properties

This is one of the most common and widely known types of wool used to make clothes. None of the known artificial materials currently available on the market can replace natural sheep's wool by its properties.

Like any other natural knitting material, wool has a high oxygen-carrying capacity, while keeping it warm. Clothes made of sheep's wool do not create a vapor accumulation effect while wearing them, keeps the body dry and warm. Also, due to good passive thermoregulation, the risk of colds in case of sudden temperature fluctuations is significantly reduced. The antibacterial effect and good air circulation reduce the number of harmful bacteria and dust mites that accumulate in clothing.

Sheep wool has a fast water absorption rate approximately seven times faster than any other textile material. Good temperature control also improves the properties of clothing made from this material. An essential component of sheep's wool is lanolin, which helps push dirt away from the material structure and also has a positive effect on other wool properties. Raw materials of this type in most cases do not irritate the skin at all and do not contribute to allergy stimulation. Items made of sheep's wool are perfectly suitable for small children. The material does not accumulate static electricity, does not have the ability to accumulate dust, is available at an affordable price, and is on sale in many shops.

Application

Sheep's wool - takes a leading position in clothes manufacturing. You can find it in:

- Yarn for knitwear and woolen threads;

- Various felt materials for the manufacture of headwear;

- In carpets and special soundproofing materials;

- Blankets and plaids;

- Clothes for all ages, including lining for winter things;

- Medical items: woolen belts, joint pads, etc.

It is considered that the most premium yarns that are not dyed and have undergone minimal processing. The thicker the fibers used for knitting, the better the beneficial effect on the human body, and the higher the performance.

Angora

The sustainable yarns of this type are always very gentle to the touch, warm, and very soft. Some time ago, the name Angora (Moher) was used to refer to yarns that were usually made in Turkey. Its source was a special type of goat, which can only be found in some places. This type of goat could not be taken out of the country and bred without the government's permission. Quality yarns with similar characteristics are also produced from a special type of long-haired rabbit.

Characteristics

The obtained wool is difficult to spin without adding extra fiber. Angora woolen hair is usually about 10 centimeters long. Like any other natural wool, it has a high heat accumulation and preservation coefficient. One of the most expensive types of angora wool is produced in Germany. The wool is highly durable and durable. The care required for products made of this material is minimal.

Application

Thanks to its excellent performance characteristics, this wool has found wide application in the manufacture of clothing. This wool is added to knitting and even large-scale production of quality garments, including:

- Hats;

- Mittens;

- Scarves;

- Socks, etc.

Although this wool is completely natural, it can still cause allergic reactions. It is worth knitting things using this material with some care to avoid undesirable discomfort. It is easy to knit complex patterns in different sizes with angora wool threads. Things turn out to be warm and light.